Silicon Valley CEOs Share the Secrets to Building Successful Companies

We cut the ribbon at our new global headquarters in San Jose, CA, two weeks ago today, joining the neighborhood of some of the most innovative companies in the world who call the “Capital of Silicon Valley” home.

It’s an area built on big ideas and forward thinking. People flock to the valley from all over the world to not only catch a glimpse of the future, but to help shape it.

We invited dozens of industry leaders, press, and even the city’s mayor (thank you, Mayor Sam Liccardo!) to celebrate the moment. To help commemorate this key event in the next phase of our growth, we brought together some of the brightest minds in the valley in one panel to talk about what it takes to build a great company:

During the event, our experts shared their opinions and advice around creating winning go-to-market strategies, using artificial intelligence to further company goals, and so much more. Scroll down for some of the most quote-worthy soundbites below, and you can check out the full video recording at the bottom of this article.

On the keys to building great software...

“The challenge is not to provide the most features. The challenge is not to give people the simplest product out there. The challenge is to give people something that truly solves their business needs.” - Andrew Filev, CEO of Wrike

“You have to have a collaborative set of features because that’s the way we live and that’s the way we now work. We demand it.” - Tony Zingale, former CEO of Jive

On founding a new company...

“The really important thing is to understand your dream. I knew I really wanted to start a company.” - Eric S. Yuan, CEO of Zoom

On building a great team...

“I was always a believer in the power of what a smaller group of people can do. You can see an impact, even in your own level of energy and what you put into it. The outcome is very visible.” - Andrew Filev, CEO of Wrike

“Even in the world of AI and the world of incredibly good, powerful, and easy to use software, the human touch still matters so much on every single level.” - Andrew Filev, CEO of Wrike

“I think for all of us, the number one thing about building a great company is the employees. Give them greater tools, better devices, allow them to work at home, and in other offices.“ - Eric S. Yuan, CEO of Zoom

On going to market...

“Having the best product earns you the right to be able to build a company and go to market.” - Tony Zingale, former CEO of Jive

“If you keep improving the product experience, and make sure your product works on any device and anywhere, you have a chance to win.” - Eric S. Yuan, CEO of Zoom

On the workplace of the future...

“AI is one of the biggest trends right now. There’s a lot of hype around it, and some of that hype is unjustified. But there’s a lot of work happening on the backend that isn’t hyped at all, that helps everyone automate a lot of routine work. It allows us to focus more on creativity, strategy, and empathy. These are things that machines can’t do for us.” - Andrew Filev, CEO of Wrike

The Future of Work

Innovations like automation and AI make it possible for teams to do more with less. Far from replacing their jobs, these technologies free workers to focus on solving tough problems and producing more impactful work, which leads to dramatic breakthroughs. Technological innovation allows increasingly dispersed teams to collaborate seamlessly across distances and time zones.

Watch the full discussion below to hear what else Andrew, Tony, and Eric had to say about what’s next in the digital workplace!